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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ministers consider asylum changes | Ministers consider asylum changes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Asylum applications made in Scotland could be dealt with by officials north of the border. | Asylum applications made in Scotland could be dealt with by officials north of the border. |
| UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne indicated the possible reform during a meeting with Scottish Labour MPs. | UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne indicated the possible reform during a meeting with Scottish Labour MPs. |
| It follows growing opposition to dawn raids which have seen forced removal of failed asylum seekers in Scotland. | It follows growing opposition to dawn raids which have seen forced removal of failed asylum seekers in Scotland. |
| However, Ian Davidson MP, who attended the meeting, defended dawn raids and said the aim of the change would be to speed up the application process. | However, Ian Davidson MP, who attended the meeting, defended dawn raids and said the aim of the change would be to speed up the application process. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What we regard as unacceptable is leaving people in limbo for long periods of time, with uncertainty over the decision that is being made. | He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What we regard as unacceptable is leaving people in limbo for long periods of time, with uncertainty over the decision that is being made. |
| "We accept that dawn raids are undesirable but the difficulty is finding an alternative. | "We accept that dawn raids are undesirable but the difficulty is finding an alternative. |
| "We've examined the question of voluntary return. | "We've examined the question of voluntary return. |
| "At the moment we offer £2,000 of cash in kind for people who are refused asylum to go back, but there has not been a great take-up of that." | "At the moment we offer £2,000 of cash in kind for people who are refused asylum to go back, but there has not been a great take-up of that." |
| The proposals would make no difference whatsoever to the decision-making process Margaret WoodsGlasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees | |
| Mr Davidson said the onus was on those who want an end to the practice of dawn raids to suggest an alternative. | Mr Davidson said the onus was on those who want an end to the practice of dawn raids to suggest an alternative. |
| "We are in listening mode, if somebody has got an alternative we are perfectly willing to listen to them," he said. | "We are in listening mode, if somebody has got an alternative we are perfectly willing to listen to them," he said. |
| However, campaigners for asylum seekers living in Scotland said the proposed deal did not go far enough. | |
| Margaret Woods of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees said: "Obviously if, under this plan, it is made easier to contact the people who are dealing with the case, that would definitely help those who are trying to assist refugees. | |
| "But it would make no difference whatsoever to the decision-making process as far as we can see. | |
| "It would make no difference to the dranconian nature of the laws and no difference to the hundreds of people who are here just now, some of whom have been here for up to seven years, who are on a list to be removed." | |
| Ms Woods called for clarification on what would happen to the failed asylum seekers currently in Scotland. | |
| She also voiced opposition to dawn raids and said the campaign against the policy would continue. |